8 



water in the county, presents its mirrored surface to the traveller as 

 one of the most beautiful objects on which the eye can rest. After 

 furnishing several extensive and valuable mill powers at its out-let, 

 its superfluous waters flow southerly until they mingle in the Housa- 

 tonic. 



The surface of the country is broken and mountainous. There 

 are generally considered three distinct ranges of mountains running 

 from north to south the whole length of the county. The easterly 

 branch or range of mountains is a part of the Green mountains, 

 which reach far into Vermont. The westerly branch is denominated 

 the Taconic Range. The intermediate mountains are known by 

 various local names, and are rather insular elevations than a continued 

 range. Saddle Mountain in the north-western corner of the county, 

 and Mount Washington forming its south-western corner are magni- 

 ficent elevations and the highest mountains in the State. Saddle 

 mountain has in many places been cleared high up its sides ; but its 

 summits are crowned with a thick and beautiful forest of maple, oak, 

 walnut and other varieties of hard wood. The ascent of INIount 

 Washington on the western and the north-eastern side is long and 

 wearisome, but not difticult ; and after ascending by the course of the 

 road two miles or more, you reach an extended space of gently un- 

 dulating country, and almost entirely surrounded by a belt or succes- 

 sion of hills of different elevations, which, from a distance, and before 

 the mountain was ascended, seemed to form only a single elevation. 

 This comparatively level sj)ace is cleared and cultivated, furnishing 

 many valuable farms favorable for pasturage. It forms the town of 

 Mt. Washington, which now includes the whole elevated country, 

 and that small portion of territory, making the south-western angle of 

 the state, and known as Boston Corner. 



The Hosick mountain, lying at the north-eastern part of the county, 

 is a considerable elevation, difficult of ascent by the road on the east- 

 ern side ; and steeper, and in some parts precipitous, on its western 

 side. The stage road passes over this mountain ; and like Mount 

 Washington, the top of the mountain presents a rolling country, with 

 a jiroductive soil, furnishing excellent pasturage, and valuable and 

 thrifty farms. The other mountains in the county are insulated. 

 Several of them are immense masses of lime-stone and marble ; but 



